Ch. 2 & 3

Article I of the present Texas Constitution pertains to: A. Bill of Rights. B. the legislative branch. C. the executive branch. D. public education.

A

In the Texas constitution, the Bill of Rights A. protects many rights also protected in the United States Constitution. B. is shorter than the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. C. protects the government against the people's actions. D. proclaims Texas to be a free and independent state, subject to no limitations.

A

Low legislative pay may have the following impact on the state legislature: a. prevent the election of low income residents to the House or Senate. b. encourage the development of career politicians. c. offer legislatures a luxurious salary that insulates them from the concerns of average Texans. d. undermine redistricting efforts

A

Of the different ways of ordering relations between central governments and local units, the most popular method in the world is: A. a unitary system. B. a confederal system. C. a federal system. D. a bicameral system.

A

The Republic of Texas: A. became the 28th state of the U.S. in 1845. B. joined the U.S. as a state in 1836. C. was formed in 1845 with a Declaration of Independence from Mexico. D. drafted and adopted its third constitution in 1836.

A

The goal of new federalism is to: A. reduce the restrictions attached to federal grants. B. increase the restrictions attached to federal grants. C. reduce the role of state governments concerning federal grants. D. increase the role of the federal government concerning grants.

A

Which of the following is not one of the articles of the Texas Constitution? A. Miscellaneous B. Powers of Government C. Impeachment D. Railroads

A

You and your spouse are granted a divorce by a Reno, Nevada, court, but Texas (your home state) refuses to recognize your new marital status. Which right is Texas abridging? A. Full faith and credit B. Privileges and immunities C. Right of eminent domain D. Right of free enterprise

A

A constitution provides for all of the functions except for: A. limiting governmental power. B. being specific about the structure of executive branch. C. establishing the institutions of government. D. assigning power to the institutions created.

B

A league of independent states in which the central government handles only those matters of common concern expressly delegated to it is referred to as a: A. federal system. B. confederal system. C. unitary system. D. democratic system.

B

Concurrent powers include all of the following except a. taxation. b. defense. c. infrastructure construction. d. regulating business.

B

Federal government obligations to states include all of the following except A. provide security B. organize and hold elections for state office C. respect territorial integrity D. protect against domestic violence E. guarantee a republican form of government

B

In a federal political system power is: A. always vested in a bicameral legislature. B. shared between the central government and constituent governments. C. bestowed in the central government, with no power being granted to constituent government. D. concentrated in a unicameral legislature within a strong central government.

B

In the case of McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court held: A. McCulloch had violated state law and must pay the tax with interest. B. that only when acts of Congress are forbidden by the Constitution are they unconstitutional. C. that the matter was not a federal question and should be decided in the state court system. D. Maryland could only tax the value of the money at a rate that could not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Bank of the United States.

B

The concept of horizontal federalism deals with: A. relationships between the national government and state governments. B. relationships between state governments. C. relationships between state government and the local or county governments. D. relationships between the national government and other democratic governments.

B

The election of judges opens the judicial system up to the influence of special interests through a. newspaper editorials. b. campaign contribution. c. impeachment. d. the governor's appointment powers.

B

The political situation in Texas prior to the drafting of the present Constitution was: A. unified. B. corrupt C. vigorous. D. indifferent

B

The term enumerated powers refers to: A. those powers that a federal government has by definition of being a national government. B. the powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. C. powers granted to both the federal government and the state governments. D. the power of the federal government to make laws to implement stated policies.

B

Weaknesses of Texas constitution include: A. great length, many amendments, and a Bill of Rights. B. many amendments, rigid restrictions, and excessive detail. C. separation of powers, over 280 amendments, and federalism. D. none of the above.

B

When the national government institutes a military draft, it is using its: A. delegated powers. B. implied powers. C. reserved powers. D. military privilege power.

B

Which case supported the concept of implied powers? A. Plessy v. Ferguson, 1819 B. McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819 C. McHenry v. Maryland, 1819 D. Livingston v. Connecticut, 1819 E. Greeks v. Geeks, 1819

B

Which of the following is not a required step in amending the Constitution? A. proposal by the Legislature B. approval by the governor C. publication of the proposal in newspapers D. ratification by popular vote

B

A basic criticism of the Constitution is that it is, to a great extent: A. unspecific. B. over-flexible. C. a legislative code. D. too brief.

C

A major function of constitutions is to: A. limit corporate power. B. permit extensive governmental power. C. establish the organizational framework for governing institutions. D. prohibit socialism.

C

A major reason for the development of cooperative federalism was: A. the lack of support state governments were giving the national legislature's attempt to pass needed legislation. B. the need for states to band together to stop the flow of power to the national government. C. the public expectation for action concerning the disastrous state of the economy. D. the lack of cooperation between regions to slow inflation.

C

In a confederal political system the central governing unit: A. has total power over state governments. B. has total power over local governments. C. has no ability to make laws directly applicable to individuals without the authority of state governments. D. has the ability to revoke laws that are directly applicable to individuals without the approval of state governments.

C

State obligations to federal government are all the following except: A. respect the federal constitution B. amendment to the constitutions must be ratified by 3/4 of states C. provide security for states D. provide elections for federal officers E. respect treaties

C

The Full Faith and Credit Clause: A. is optional upon the determination of the governor. B. was one of the New Deal Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. C. applies to the recognition of public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of each state by the other. D. is an implied power of the national government.

C

The Texas Constitution has grown most through: A. usage. B. judicial interpretation. C. amendment. D. custom

C

The government of the United States is legitimate because it: A. is not concerned with the good of the public when it makes foreign policy decisions. B. has the power to make any decision it wants. C. conforms to certain constitutional requirements. D. conforms to obligations set forth in the International Rules of Governing.

C

The implied powers of the national government: A. are limited by the decisions of state governments. B. are delegated in Article II, Section 6. C. give elasticity to our constitutional system. D. restricts Congress from passing legislation that is not specifically delegated in the Constitution.

C

The primary consequence of a state being a part of a federal system is that: A. states must provide for separation of powers. B. sovereignty remains totally with the national government. C. there is a division of power between two levels of government. D. states cannot be unitary in structure.

C

The privileges and immunities clause of the Constitution means: A. elected officials of the national government cannot be tried by state governments. B. elected officials of state government cannot be tried by the national government. C. a citizen of one state cannot be treated as an alien in another state. D. A citizen of another country cannot be treated as an alien in any state.

C

The process of amending the Texas Constitution includes the provision that amendments must be proposed by: A. a simple majority of both houses of the Legislature. B. a two-thirds majority of a concurrent session of the Legislature. C. a two-thirds majority of the total membership of both houses of the Legislature. D. three-fourths of all state legislatures.

C

You have been convicted in Indiana of a crime and escape to Texas, where you are apprehended by the local police. Indiana wants you back. Which constitutional provision would Indiana invoke? A. Full faith and credit B. Privileges and immunities C. Extradition D. Police power

C

A constitutional power which both state and national governments may exercise in a particular area of jurisdiction is called: A. implied powers. B. expressed powers. C. exclusive powers. D. concurrent powers.

D

All of the following statements are correct except: A. the Texas Constitution has been amended over 330 times. B. the present state Constitution is over 100 years old. C. the Texas Constitution has been amended more frequently than the average state Constitution. D. Texas has the longest Constitution of any state.

D

Among the powers of government provided by the Texas constitution is A. the establishment of a unified judicial system. B. all executive power resting with the governor. C. the fusion of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government. D. legislative power vested in a bicameral legislature.

D

In the United States, citizens live under: A. only the U.S. Constitution. B. only the constitution of the state in which they reside. C. no constitution. D. both the U.S. and a state constitution

D

Initiatives and referendums are two ways to a. impeach a governor. b. elect a judge. c. dispute property taxes. d. amend the state constitution.

D

States may not: A. license marriages. B. regulate sale of liquor. C. license occupations. D. make treaties with foreign nations.

D

The Texas Constitutional Convention of 1974: A. had delegates selected from the public by popular vote. B. was composed of members of the Texas House and Legislative Council. C. adopted a proposed constitution by a 2/3 vote. D. failed to agree on a proposed constitution.

D

The chief obstacle to the revision of the Texas Constitution is: A. lack of a precedent for revision of a state constitution. B. lack of constitutional provision for revision. C. popular indifference. D. opposition by powerful interest groups.

D

The first article of the Texas Constitution pertains to: A. land grants. B. the three branches of government. C. impeachment. D. the Bill of Rights.

D

The last major effort at constitutional revision in Texas occurred in the period of: A. 1896-1900 B. 1924-1925 C. 1947-1948 D. 1971-1975

D

The state of Maryland imposed a tax on the Bank of the United States because: A. individuals were not being taxed on their money by the national government. B. the Bank of the United States was the only bank in Maryland. C. Maryland taxed all banks at that time. D. it feared an extension of centralized political power.

D

The term implied powers refers to: A. those powers that a federal government has by definition of being a national government. B. the powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. C. powers granted to both the federal government and the state governments. D. the power of the federal government to make laws to implement stated policies.

D

This is not the state power according to the 10th amendment: A. conducting elections B. determining qualifications of voters C. establishing local government D. making treaties E. providing public safety

D

Unitary systems: A. have only one branch of government. B. have only one house in the national legislature. C. do not have an independent judiciary. D. do not have independent state governments.

D

A special law passed for the purpose of punishing a certain person without a trial is called: A. Ex Post Facto Law B. Writ of Mandamus C. Sine Qua Non D. Quid Pro Quo E. None of the above

E

In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court decided that: A. judicial commissions were a right, not a privilege. B. Marshall should not have signed the commission. C. Madison must deliver the commission. D. a provision of the 1801 law was unconstitutional. E. none of the above.

E

The Texas Constitution has been amended (as of the present date): A. only a few times. B. 27 times. C. 280 times. D. 300 times. E. over 450 times.

E

Which one of the following statements is correct about the case of Marbury v. Madison? A. John Marshal was appointed as chief justice by the lame-duck Congress in 1801. B. James Madison was a secretary of state to President John Adams. C. William Marbury was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. D. Madison went to the Supreme Court for a Writ of Mandamus, a court order to compel Marbury to deliver the commission. E. none of the above.

E